Erin Soulia

During her co-op experience at Morphic Therapeutic, Erin Soulia ’25 is applying everything she’s learned in her courses to her job in clinical operations. The senior pharmaceutical sciences major is getting paid by the company for a six-month co-op while earning three credits.

“I feel like I’ve come full circle,” says Soulia, who is minoring in business administration. “I’m applying my knowledge of anatomy and physiology, molecular pharmacology and biochemistry as well as business management in my role at Morphic.”

Intrigued by an uncle who runs clinical trials in the biotechnology field, Soulia decided to apply to UMass Lowell’s pharmaceutical sciences program.

“I always loved science and health care, but I didn’t want to be a doctor or nurse,” says Soulia, who grew up in Abington, Massachusetts, and attended Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, Massachusetts. “UMass Lowell’s pharmaceutical sciences program gave me the option of working a co-op for six months, which I wanted to do to gain experience and build my resume.”

Soulia met with her advisor to plan the courses she needed to take in the winter and summer breaks to graduate within four years.

“All of my professors have supported my success and helped me see how my courses will apply to my future career,” she says.

Recently acquired by Eli Lilly and Company, Morphic Therapeutic develops therapies for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The company paid for Soulia to attend the flagship event for clinical research and trial management professionals, the Fierce Clinical Summit, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“I was able to network and learn about the latest advancements in clinical research, including risk-based approaches and quality by design,” says Soulia. “I gained valuable insights through engaging discussions and presentations that deepened my understanding of the field.”